Four decades ago, the Cupertino tech giant asked IDEO to create a mouse for its new computer, Lisa. Prior to that Xerox PARC and Douglas Englebert attempted at mouse design, but they turned out not only hard to create but also extremely expensive. After long years and several designs later, it appears that Apple is working on a revolutionary mouse.
New Apple Mouse
A new set of Apple documents filed at the US Patent and Trademark Office reveals several recently granted patents for the company. One of the attention grabbing patents is the Apple Mouse design that changes the shape of its body. The patent describes techniques and systems that allow the Apple Mouse to change its shape.
The shape shifting design of the Apple Mouse is essential in offering users with various sizes and has the ability to change the mouse based on their needs or likes through adjustable height and width. Additionally, the Apple Mouse patent unveils that it might come with several actuators that could manipulate the member to alter the curvature of the exterior surface of the mouse. The patent notes that it is designed this way to enable the mouse to deliver tactile feedback to users while offering optimum ergonomics.
Moreover, the Apple Mouse patent underlines that it could be equipped with several sensors that would help identify if the curvature matches a contour on the hand of the user to change the shape of the mouse. The Apple document also mentions the possibility of an integrated display on the mouse that could act as a receptor to touch and force input. It also considers the potential of a biometric sensor inclusion, a camera, and on and off buttons.
It is worth mentioning that while this information about the future Apple Mouse is exciting, it not yet official. Apple, like all other tech companies, has a habit of filing patents that do not push through production.
Mouse and Trackpad Support
In other Apple news, the Cupertino tech juggernaut is introducing trackpads support to iPads in the iPadOS 13.4 software update. The support would be available on its recently launched iPad Pro model and its Magic Keyboard. Interestingly, the update is not limited to the latest hardware.
Users of iPad running on iPadOS 13.4 would be able to enjoy this feature too. Moreover, this feature will also be available on Magic Trackpad 2, Apple's Magic Mouse 2, and third-party trackpads and mice linked over USB or Bluetooth.
